1 week ago
25
NEWYou tin present perceive to Fox News articles!
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed connected Tuesday that Russian teams volition stay banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics, officially closing the doorway connected NHL prima Alex Ovechkin.
The IOC released a connection pursuing comments from International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President Luc Tardif.
Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin, #8, celebrates aft scoring a extremity past Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer, #47, during the 3rd play astatine Capital One Arena. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)
"The IOC Executive Board proposal from March 2023 with respect to teams of athletes with a Russian passport remains successful place," the connection read, via Reuters.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"It is based connected the information that, by definition, a radical of Individual Neutral Athletes cannot beryllium considered a team. We instrumentality enactment that the IIHF has confirmed that it volition travel this recommendation."
Speaking connected the last time of the IIHF World Championship implicit the weekend, Tardif was asked astir the anticipation of Russian athletes competing successful the upcoming Winter Games. He said that portion a last determination had not been made, the content was that the IOC would proceed to uphold its ban.
The NHL past allowed players to vie successful the Olympics successful 2014. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
"Recently they asked america to nonstop them a docket without Russia, truthful that’s wherever we are," Tardif said, via TheHockeyNews.com. "The authoritative connection is pending, but the IOC has told america that they are informing the Russian Olympic Committee that they are not participating successful the Olympics."
The prohibition was enactment into spot pursuing the afloat subject penetration of Ukraine which started successful February 2022, 4 days aft the Beijing Winter Games closed. A prime fewer athletes were capable to vie successful the Paris Olympics arsenic neutral athletes pursuing a vetting process.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The NHL announced past twelvemonth that players would beryllium capable to vie successful the 2026 and 2030 Games for the archetypal clip since 2014, but Tuesday’s announcement unopen the doorway to immoderate Russian players hoping to vie – including Washington Capitals prima Alex Ovechkin.
Washington Capitals near helping Alex Ovechkin reacts during the archetypal play of an NHL hockey crippled against the Edmonton Oilers connected Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 successful Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Earlier this month, 4 Russian fig skaters were approved for qualification by the International Skating Union to vie arsenic neutral athletes. No Russian skaters were approved to vie successful the pairs and crystal creation disciplines.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
English (US) ·